//------------------------------// // Prologue: Leaving Home // Story: Friendship's Gate: Tales of the Pony Coast // by BrightIdea //------------------------------// Now where to begin, perhaps something about the abyss and how it looks back? Nah. Having been inspired by Pony Ages: Origins by Omegapony11, I have started the next Bioware title to become a FIMfiction with the we all know and love with the classic Baldur’s Gate series. I am doing my best to graft together the Baldur’s Gate series and MLP: FIM together which in some cases is harder than it looks (mostly the pony puns). Though I don’t want to give anything right away, besides the explanation for the title it is a playoff of the Baldur’s Gate expansion pack, BG: Tales of the Sword Coast, so I could stick Pony in the title. Note that while I have created a few characters all respective characters and settings either below to My Little Pony: FIM owned by Hasbro or to Baldur’s Gate Series to Bioware or Wizard’s of the Coast entertainment. --- Prologue: Leaving Home “When shadows descend upon the lands, our divine ladies will walk alongside us as equals. The Lady of Murder shall perish, but in her doom she shall spawn a score of mortal fillies and colts. Chaos will be sown from their cantering. In the Year of the Barn…” -Excerpt from the Prophecies of Celestia. Nestled atop the cliffs that rise from the Pony Coast the fortress of Bridlekeep houses the finest collections of books and knowledge throughout Equestria. Strict and secluded, it is a place of study and isolation from the dangers and quarrels that are daily life in the lands of Equestria. Bridlekeep is also home for one Twilight Sparkle, who has lived there ever since she was a newborn filly under the guardianship of Gorion, Bridlekeep’s wisest sage as his ward. Under his tutelage she has learned of the oldest of lore and the most magnificent of magic. It is true Gorion has always spoken true with Twilight on all matters, except for one thing: Twilight’s parentage. As of late clouds have appeared on the horizon, with rumors and tales finding their way even into the libraries of Bridlekeep, with word of a shortage of diamonds throughout the troubled Pony Coast. The blame for this shortage being hot potatoed between the magnificent, port city of Friendship’s Gate and its rival Amania, further south. At first thinking herself and Bridlekeep beyond the political struggles of the outside world, Twilight has been surprised by Gorion’s command to his ward to lift her head out of her books and make preparations to leave Bridlekeep. Heeding Gorion’s words, the young unicorn has found herself at the Bridlekeep Inn. It is here that her journey will begin, which will turn out to be a most unexpected and unplanned journey beyond Twilight’s own imagination. --- “Welcome! My old tavern’s as clean as a unicorn’s ar-“ “Winclomp! I know how clean your tavern is! I helped you clean yesterday!” the lavender pony said as she trotted to the brown and balding innkeeper of the Bridlekeep Inn. Leaning over the bartable separating himself from Twilight, the innkeeper’s mischevious grin refused to leave his face even under Twilight’s no-nonsese stare. Even before Winclomp began speaking, Twilight mentally prepared herself what came next. “Oh right…thanks again for that little Twilight Sparkle…so! Come to visit ye old pal Winclomp have ye? Now don’t forget the 5000 gold bit entrance fee as per local custom” “Oh Winclomp” Twilight’s eyes made a long, slow roll across the room “Your always such a big kidder, your jokes seem to get funnier the more I hear them…perhaps less often than usual…less and less so…” “Haw! You got me Twilight Sparkle!” his large, brown coat shaking with barely contained mirth of a pony that didn’t get out of a chair counting coins very often, “Your always a sight for sore eyes, all these monks here have all their flanks up tight but your always welcome here! Gorion did good raising you I think. So is there anything you be needing? Room? Drink? Sword?” Trying not to let her already strained smile slip any more than it had, the young mage concentrated on her horn, soon magical energies lighting it brightly. Almost immediately a piece of paper floated up from her saddlebags to the proprietor of the Inn which he eyed thoughtfully while Twilight spoke “Gorion has instructed me to gather up supplies for a journey!” the lavender unicorn’s face a mix of excitement and uncertainty, her voice and speech becoming higher and more rapid paced as Twilight continued “I mean it’s the first time I’ve ever been out of Bridlekeep, I think since I was a baby and even then I can’t remember back that far, so I had no idea what I need. I mean I’ve read hundreds of books describing what a hard and violent place it’s like outside of Bridlekeep but they never explained what I would need! So after a detailed search through several of Polo Stamp's guides I have come up with this bullet list which I am more than sure will cover what I will need!” Twilight finished her monologue with a sharp inhaling of air, slightly purple in the face. Looking over the list Winclomp’s gaze narrowed with every line, after a minute he turns back to Twilight, asking her, “So…how much did Gorion give ye to fleece me?” “Oh about 100 gold bits!” Twilight says cheerfully, levitating a bag of coins onto the bar, Winclomp’s ears perk up at the sound of gold hitting his table but he suddenly frowns and shakes his head “If ye be wanting half the loot on this list ye will be needing more gold bits then this!” “W-what? But I need everything on the list how else will I survive out there in the unforgiving wilderness?” Twilight’s eyes going wide, rubbing her hooves together nervously. “Don’t worry young one! Here I will get ye a few of the things on this here list, then you can use them to go around Bridlekeep and see if ye can scrounge up some more gold bits with odd jobs and the like!” “Really? Thanks Winclomp!” “Not a thing at all, think of this as me going away present to ye, after all Ye-Know-Who will miss you terribly…” “Yes, yes I know but there is nothing I can do!” the mage giving a guilty look “ Just give my hopes that I-Know-Who will be safe and happy while I am gone, ok?” “Ye have yourself a bargain, Miss Twilight!” After Winclomp disappears into the back of the Inn, Twilight’s eyes wander over the common room of the Inn glancing to a green, robed monk, the monk stands off to the side in one corner of the room. The monks of Bridlekeep tend to the everyday maintenance and caring of Bridlekeep’s libraries, and have always been helpful to Twilight’s inquisitive nature. Trotting over to the monk hoping to practice what she learned from “Polo’s Guide for Idle Conversation With The Peasantry”, she opens her mouth to speak but the unicorn is interrupted when the monk suddenly snaps his head up from under his robes shouting out “IF YOU WISH TO PAUSE THE GAME YOU CAN SELECT THE MENU IN THE CORNER TO THE…the…the...oh” looking around bleary eyed, the monk shakes his head and trots out the door, mumbling to himself “…got to get more sleep and less studying the holy manuals…” Bewildered for a moment she shakes herself of it as Winclomp returns pulling out a small cart of objects “Here we are Little Sparkle!” Ten minutes later the lavender unicorn wears a purple mage’s robe with black highlights that match her mane perfectly, covering from neck to flank, a light enchantment provided by Twilight caused her cutie mark to appear on the cloth above the flank. This mage’s robe would provide slightly more protection than an ordinary robe and Twilight knew some enchantments that would allow her to change the color if she ever wanted or needed to. Reaching into the cart, Twilight’s magic revealed a fighting quarterstaff that with careful application of her powers Twilight found she responded with her magic, as well as the small set of sharp looking daggers that uncomfortably reminded the filly that she would be facing dangers beyond her imagination outside of the walls of Bridlekeep. When Twilight moved to the rest of the contents of the cart which included everything from magical healing potions to camping gear Winclomp held up a hoof “This equipment is a lot more expensive than just a new set of clothes and a stick! I know a few ponies around here could use some help with chores and errands. Whatever you can bring back we will call it even, what ye say?” Twilight smothered the grimace of annoyance on her face, pouting just a little “If at most I am only going to get a few coins more why have me run all over Bridlekeep?”. Winclomp shakes his head, giving a wry smile “I was thinking it would be a right good chance to say goodbye to your home…” “Ah, that would be a good reason…” Twilight says looking slightly embarrassed, face dropping down and rubbing her hind legs against one another “Alright, Winclomp, I’ll be back soon don’t sell any of it while I am running around! Please!” “Don’t ye worry…well…only worry if some fancy, schmancy noblemen offers me a pair of gold pantaloons!” --- For Twilight it turns out the young unicorn didn’t have to go far to find someone in need of her help, coming face to face with her magical peer, Moon Dancer, the blue maned unicorn racing over to Twilight and taking her by the shoulders “Twilight! There you are! I need your help! I’ve lost my copy of ‘A History of Equestria’ and I can’t seem to find it anywhere!” “Calm down Moon Dancer!” using her magic to teleport herself a foot away from the frantic blue and white pony, Twilight gave Moon Dancer a hard stare, “Have you looked where you usually lose things? In your saddlebags? Under your pillow? Next to your breakfast oats?” “YES!” Moon Dancer cries hopping from hoof to hoof, looking around nervously “You know I can’t stand that annoying clomp and clamp of hooves on old wood floors so I took the book somewhere on the grounds to read! Oh please help me Twilight Sparkle! I have to find it soon or else…” “Hmmm” hums the lavender pony, rubbing her chin with a hoof “Well I could help you look for it, but I have to leave with Gorion very soon, so I’ll be running around quite quickly and it would be a lot of work making use of my deduction skills…” “Oh! I have this gem I could give to you as payment! Winclomp may pay you something for it! Please Twilight! I don’t want the monks yelling at me again, remember what happened when I took that one-of-a-kind copy of ancient Minaturven cooking recipes to read in the bath and the steam made the words run off…” “Alright, Moon Dancer I will see if I can find it but don’t get your hopes u-“ “Oh! Thank you! Thank you, Twilight! I’ll be back in a short while; I have a hoof job appointment to keep! Shouldn’t take long! Bye!” Moon Dancer races off, leaving Twilight in a choking dust cloud of kicked up dust and dirt. “What? That’s why she needed to find it so soon? Grr…Twilight sometimes your just a little too trusting of someponies…” Fortunately, Twilight knew where she could most likely find the errant book in question, and it was only a short walk away. Along the northern wall of Bridlekeep to the cow stables she found Drippy and Moorelia. With a coat of dark blue and grey, Drippy had a rain cloud cutie mark on his flank, a symbol of his ability to care for others…so much so he breaks out in crying fits over the tiniest thing whether it is sad or happy. Only the cows like Moorelia never minded his company, Twilight thought because they liked to be listened to by anyone. Arriving at the cow stables Twilight saw Moorealia didn’t appear to be in one of her famous talking moods by the green complexion of her face or the thermometers stuck between her lips as she lay in a pile of hay. “Oh-h, O-h Twi-twilight! Its ter-r-r-bile! *Sob*” Drippy moaned out when he saw her coming. “What seems to be the problem, Drippy?” coming to a halt at the edge of the puddle of tears that was quickly becoming a small pond around the earth pony’s feet. “I-it’s *sob and snort* Moorelia! Sh-she’s come down with a te-terible cold! Or maybe it’s her allergies…b-but either way j-just look how aw-aw-awful Moorelia is!” Drippy said with a trembling lip, ca gush of tears soaking into his handkerchief, Moorelia for her part manages a ragged “Moo…I think…it was something…I ate dearie…moo-ooooh” “That’s terrible” Twilight said, frowning and moving through the puddle to pat a comforting hoof on Drippy’s shoulder “Have you called the High Cleric? Shouldn’t he have a spell that could cure her sickness?” “Ahuh” Drippy manages to say between sobs “B-but he-he’s away at a bronyvention of his order in Saddledeep! He-he won’t be back for a few days and-and just look at Moorelia! Wh-what- *sob*“ Before Drippy could soak Twilight in geyser of tears, she quickly places a hood on his mouth, the mage moving fast to cheer him up “Ah! Uuuh…wait! Doesn’t Mule have a healing potion?” Drippy’s eyes widen, nodding throughfully, “Th-that’s right! I remember hearing him say his parents in Barngost sent him a p-package of sickness potions because the sea air makes him s-sea sick! Oh-oh-oh Twilight! Could y-you m-m-maybe…?” “Not a problem Drippy…just PLEASE…stop crying…” “*Sniff* D-deal! Oh! I am so happy I-I could j-just-“ “PLEASE! No. Crying. Period! Though you could help me too” Twilight dips her head towards the cow stables, “I know Moon Dancer often leaves some of her things here and I think she may have left a book here…if it hasn’t been washed away that is”. “She d-did! Its-it’s right there in the hay” pointing to a pile of hay that was surprisingly dry, though from the way Drippy was going Twilight wasn’t too sure how long that would be. Using her magic Twilight concentrates on the pile of hay, and in a few moments ‘The History of Equestria’ rises up from the pile of hay with only a few pieces of hay stuck in the pages. Lifting the book into her saddle bags the lavender pony turns back to Drippy and Moorelia, “Well I guess I’ll be right back with that potion for Moorelia, just please Drippy don’t go anywhere right now…like into the library” “*Sniff sniff* You got it Twilight! Just h-hurry back soon I-I don’t know h-how l-long I can s-stand to-to see Moorelia l-like th-this…it’s just so-so te-terrible! I mean-“ Twilight was already off heading down the eastern outer wall before Drippy could finish his sentence. It didn’t take long for her to find Mule; as usual he was not far from the gate to Bridlekeep, as far away from the sea air breeze as he could be, and sleeping on duty rather than keeping watch at his post. Finding him wasn’t the problem though; Twilight was always a little scared to talk to Mule because while he was just a regular earth pony and not one of the real, terrible, marauding mules he had a gruff personality that often ended with the guard pony getting his sword stuck into things standing close to him after a temper tantrum. The pony was lounging at the top of one of the stairways leading up to the wall next to the only gateway in or out of Bridlekeep, somehow managing to get comfy enough to fall asleep even though he was covered from nose to tail in full plate mail armor. “M-mister Mule…guard-sir…could y-you wake up a moment…please?” Twilight managed to say between clenched teeth, creeping up the steps to the sleeping Mule. Suddenly, Mule made a loud, nasty snort in his sleep, angry and mean enough to shatter Twilight’s nerves and make her scramble back a few steps downward. After a few minutes of Mule not charging down after her, Twilight managed again to crawl back up the stair, this time using her magic to levitate her quarterstaff slowly and carefully toward Mule as he slept. “Easy, Twilight…remember to concentrate…just a soft tap on the...shoulder should get his attention...” using her horn magic Twilight pushes a sliver of magical power into the levitation spell to just tap Mule but instead of tapping Mule on the shoulder her quarterstaff slams forward into Mule’s nose! “THE HAY??” Mule growls as he jumps up from his sleeping position, his long sword in his mouth and hoof rubbing at his bruised and red nose glaring around with payback in mind. “Eep” Twilight tries to duck down the stairway again but that tiny eep and movement catches Mule’s attention, before Twilight can make a dash for it, Mule is on top of her his eyes two barrels of blood shot anger, his voice coming out like a dragon’s roar and making Twilight slip down a few more steps. “WHY DID YOU JUST HIT ME?” “I...I...I…” “I WHAT? Answer me before I-“ “Mule! Stop frightening the poor filly this instant!” a new voice enters Twilight’s ears, looking down a wave of relief washes over Twilight as a yellow coated unicorn with the cutie mark of a pair of quills on his flank trots up the stone stairway, Editor! Her transmutation magic teacher! “Bu-but Editor! She hit me for no good reason and-“ “This is Twilight Sparkle, has she ever before had reason to attack you without any reason? Instead of shouting at her why don’t you ask her kindly? “ “Humph” snorting, Mule turns from Editor to Twilight; while he narrows his eyes Mule takes his sword out of his mouth and begins to roll the handle between his hooves. “Alright what is it that you want girlie? Letting out an inner sigh, Twilight is relieved that Editor is one person Mule is afraid of, an incident a few years ago occurred when Mule was throwing a tantrum, Editor polymorphed Mule into a chicken for an entire day. Coughing to clear her throat, Twilight does her best to offer a smile while looking Mule in his terrifying eyes “I-I came to ask you for one of your healing potions. M-moorealia is sick and Drippy is flooding the stables. I was wondering if there was anything you could need done to part with one of your healing potions?” “Hmmm, so you want one of these?” Mule asks, pointing with his snout to a potion hanging on his belt. “Y-yes. I need one of them, please.” “You’re wondering if I need anything done so I could give you one of these?” Mule asks a grin on his face as he cocks his head to one side. “Yes, that’s what I am asking…um Mr. Mule”. “Well let me think a moment if I need anything done…hmmm…Oh! I know…oh wait, NOPE! I don’t! Hah!” Mule shouts rearing back on hind legs and laughing loudly enough to cause a flock of nesting geese just inside the walls of Bridlekeep to take flight. To take flight right through where Mule is laughing his flank off, crashing into the guard pony and making him lose his balance “Wow! No…no…NO!” he shouts falling backward and sending his sword flying out of his hooves and down just outside of the twenty foot walls of Bridlekeep. All three ponies look over the wall’s edge to see it land blade first in the dirt down below, out of hoof’s reach. “Oh no…” Mule mutters, sounding nervous and unsure for the first time “If Gate Keeper sees me without my sword he’ll have me pulling book shipments from the gate all the way to the inner sanctum libraries for a month!” “Oh really? That would be unfortunate for you…but luckily we have here a fine student of Bridlekeep’s best teachers of the magical arts, who as you have noticed is very adept at levitating spells.” Editor says a smug look on his face as he waves a hoof at Twilight Sparkle. Mule’s face falls as he looks between his sword and Twilight, stuttering “But…but…but…” --- “Well that turned out rather fortunate for me.” Twilight Sparkle ponders as she leaves the Bridlekeep Inn, a new saddlebag of holding on her flank carrying all the supplies on her bullet list from earlier. It was a simple job to levitate Mule’s sword back to him, and under Editor’s gaze he even muttered a ‘thank you’ as he handed over one of his potions, managing to find himself busy with guarding the wall. Editor bid her good luck in her journey with Gorion and soon she was handing the cure sickness potion to Drippy but luckily Twilight was already cantering off before he could soak her new robes in a shower of tears and thanks, even passing a few gold coins to her between sobs! True to her word, Moon Dancer was back in front of the Bridlekeep Inn, squeezing the air out of Twilight for finding her book and rewarding Twilight with a Moonstone gem, which to Winclomp covered the rest she owed him for the supplies. Wishing her safety, Twilight was out the door before he could get her to comment on another joke when a pegasi, a unicorn, and an earth pony walked into his inn… Soon Twilight found herself walking through the inner courtyard, a peaceful area of Bridlekeep filled with beautiful flower gardens and ponds surrounding the inner sanctum and library, a massive marble stone keep that rose above the inner and outer walls that surrounded the keep. It was here on the front steps of the keep that Gorion had told Twilight to meet him, Twilight was about to turn the corner to the front doors of the keep when she heard a familiar voice call out her name. “Twilight Sparkle! Twilight! Hey it’s me Spike! Don’t leave yet!” “Don’t worry Spike I’m still here…” sighing as she turned around to watch the purple and green scaled, baby dragon speed through flowerbeds and stone ponds to get to her, waving his arms and only tripping twice on his way over. “Twilight! I couldn’t believe it when Winclomp told me the news! You’re going on a journey with Gorion that’s amazing! Look Twilight I need to tell you something important and its-“ “Oh, I get it Spike, your jealous of me that I’m going out of Bridlekeep! I know you’ve always wanted to get out of these walls. Well, if you want I could talk to Gorion and see if-“ “No, that’s not it at all! Stop treating me like I’m a little baby dragon!” The little baby dragon crossing his arms over his chest and looking a little wounded in his pride. “Spike your only a few-“ “I know how old I am, I can count with my fingers and tail, but if you don’t want to hear what I have to say now, fine I can tell you when you get back from your oh so exciting and fun journey! Good day!” turning around Spike storms off the way he came, kicking up water and flowers as he goes. “Oh Spike, someday you’re going to have to learn to act more grown up” shaking her head Twilight turns the corner to see Gorion waiting for her on the steps of the keep. “Well my child, I was afraid I would become a fine, aged statue before you arrived” Gorion jokes giving Twilight a smile which for a moment she can see is filled with pride, joy, and sadness. With a white mane and dusty brown coat that reminds Twilight of the paper she would find in books written centuries past, Gorion reminds her every bit of a scholar from the traveling robes he wears to his cutie mark of a golden book, its pages open and shining golden rays of light outward. “Don’t worry, I am sure one of the monks would put you somewhere nice in the shade” Twilight says with a soft smile, trotting up the steps to Gorion showing off her new saddlebags of holding. “I have everything and anything we might possibly need for a journey!” Gorion chuckles and neighs, looking over the contents as Twilight pulls out her list, “That’s all well and good, I hope you are ready to leave as soon as possible, I’m afraid we are more vulnerable the longer we stay at Bridlekeep” . “I’m sure I have everything we could need…exactly what Polo said we should need, but this is Bridlekeep, what could possibly harm us here?” Twilight asks, hiding back her own immense curiosity as she studies Gorion’s face for any emotions. “While it is a fine fortress of solitude, even a finely woven pony fly net will let a single pony fly past it. No we must leave here for we risk our safety and that of those around us” Gorion says, alarming Twilight as his face become graver and pony serious with every word. “I’m…” Twilight begins to say, stopping for a moment before taking in a deep breath and holding her head high “I’m ready for whatever is out there!” “Good, listen carefully. If we are ever separated, it is imperative you make your way to the Friendly Hoof Inn. There you will meet two friends of mine, they have long been so and you can trust them. “ Without another word, Gorion turns down the steps of Birdlekeep, Twilight turns to follow but pauses for just one moment to look up at what has been her home ever since she could remember. Silently hoping to see Bridlekeep again soon she turns to follow her adoptive father out into the world and whatever awaits for her.